This is the £195k Aston Martin Rapide AMR

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Breathe a sigh of relief: Aston Martin still makes a big, naturally aspirated V12 engine. And in this new Rapide AMR, it has made its big, naturally aspirated V12 engine more powerful.

What’s an AMR? It stands for Aston Martin Racing, and continues Aston’s increasingly symbiotic relationship between motorsport and its production road cars. Basically, it means the Astons you can buy get special powers direct from the battle-hardened racers that you can’t.

So, with haste, we go to power. That 6.0-litre naturally aspirated V12 now pumps out a solid 595bhp, more than the regular Rapide S’s 552bhp. There’s also 465lb ft of torque on offer too, and it’s all been made possible thanks to better air flow and a new engine calibration.

There’s a new calibration for the eight-speed gearbox too, and new Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres all round wrapped around 21in wheels (the biggest size ever fitted to an Aston). Drive is sent to the back, though there’s no extra acceleration on offer: 0-62mph still takes 4.4secs. Top speed rises to 205mph. It’s a saloon car, don’t forget…

Stopping power comes courtesy of 400mm carbon ceramics at the front, 360mm at the back, with six/four piston calipers front and rear. The Vanquish S’s brake cooling system is modified here for Rapide AMR duties, while the forged wheels themselves also offer better ventilation. The whole thing sits 10mm lower than a regular Rapide S.

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Lower and more aggressively, too. This AMR version – largely unchanged from the 2017 concept car – sprouts a new front grille with hints of Zagato and a splitter, sills, rear diffuser and boot spoiler all made from carbonfibre. There’s also a new bonnet with more vents. All the aero is said to reduce lift, “while retaining a neutral balance”.

There’s yet more carbon inside, the option of a One-77 steering wheel, many logos, a plaque, and the option of three different design schemes. The one shown here is the ‘Signature’: green body paint, lime stripes and accents. Silver, blue and black with contrast stripes are also available.

Available, yes, but in limited numbers. Aston is only building 210 of these Rapide AMRs, for the grand sum of £194,950. A fair old whack over the Rapide S’s near £150k.

Surely though, a four-door, naturally-aspirated V12 that looks like this is worth the outlay, no?